The Transformers Decoys Collectors Archive
	Created by Wolfgang Schloegl Decoys are little rubber guys which came with the 1986 Transformers toys. Decoys are numbered on the back. So they can be identified quite easiely. Actually they are quite rare. They can be found on Transformers shows though. 52 Decoys exist as US release. If you have a decoy that has a "wrong" number, especially one over 52, then you have a Japanese decoy. The Japanese decoys used the sum of the character's techspecs scores instead of an arbitrary listing number. Note that with 52 of them, it's possible to do a deck of playing cards with the decoy'ed TFs. And that's exactly what happened in the Japanese releases, although several Dinobots had to be used in the Decepticon suits to make the numbers work. Laserbeak/Buzzsaw is not available in the US as a decoy, but is in Japan. Decoys came unpainted. All exist in red. Rare Decoys are higher-number decepticon Decoys (32-52). Those came in red and purple where the red ones were 'Con decoys and are more rare. In Japan there were also Decoys colored in a creamy-orange. There exist boxed sets from 1986, released only in Japan, with 11 Decoys and an odd weapon. They are packed randomly and sometimes you can get repeats in one pack up to 3 or 4 times. Each figure has its own window in the long, flat box. Beside of the color they are the same as the US version molds but are 1.5 x normal size. The price for such a box on the US collectors market is in the $50-70 range. Here is a list of all 52 US-release Decoys. I got this and most of my information from Dave Van Domelen's excellent Decoy page. 01) Grimlock 02) Snarl 03) Swoop 04) Sludge 05) Slag 06) Ratchet 07) Ironhide 08) Smokescreen 09) Grapple 10) Trailbreaker 11) Sunstreaker 12) Skids 13) Jazz 14) Inferno 15) Tracks 16) Red Alert 17) Hound 18) Sideswipe 19) Prowl 20) Mirage 21) Hoist 22) Wheeljack 23) Bluestreak 24) Brawn 25) Windcharger 26) Bumblebee 27) Huffer 28) Cliffjumper 29) Blaster 30) Perceptor 31) Optimus Prime 32) Megatron 33) Skywarp 34) Thundercracker 35) Starscream 36) Soundwave 37) Blitzwing 38) Astrotrain 39) Kickback 40) Shrapnel 41) Bombshell 42) Hook 43) Scavenger 44) Bonecrusher 45) Long Haul 46) Mixmaster 47) Scrapper 48) Devastator 49) Ravage 50) Frenzy 51) Shockwave 52) Reflector Here is an image with all Decoys I have access to in the moment. I'll complete it as soon as possible. I'll also buy Decoys I still need. Klick to enlarge. (124k) The Transformers Decoys Description Slip This was packed with the Decoys to describe and list them. These scans are again from Dave Van Domelen. The front shows a comic strip (they refer to Ratchet as First Aid). Klick to enlarge. (80k) The back lists the Decoys. Klick to enlarge. (40k) Pseudo-Decoys There's a number of little rubbery robots available in the same general size range as the Decoys. Dave Van Domelen calls them Pseudo-Decoys. These exist unpainted and painted. Dave lists "Cheapo 4/$1 plastic robots" and the Transformers Train Set "Cybertronians". There are also Decoy bootlegs out there. Related Links Dave Van Domelen's Decoy Page